Zhorken vs. Meursault

[Keldeo]

[size=+2]Zhorken vs Meursault[/size]

Arena:

2vs2 Single
DQ: One week
Damage Cap: 40%
Banned Moves: None
Terrain: ASB Central Stadium

Although designed to be a state-of-the-art battling facility and located at the very heart of ASB Central's battle district, ASB Central Stadium actually sees very little use. Most battlers prefer the infinite variety of the holodrome's simulated arenas to the basic, if impressive, stadium field, and official tournaments tend to feature tours of other regions rather than a homefield brawl. There is one advantage to the stadium, though--its proximity to the holodrome grants it access to a full range of simulation options, allowing trainers to trick out their team to whatever extent they like before battling.

There's nothing much to say about the battlefield: it's a large, rectangular arena covered in astroturf. A circular pool will open in its center if a Pokémon requiring water to move around in is sent out. In this arena, Pokémon can summon absolutely anything they need for their attacks: tidal waves, boulders, and so on are in ready supply.

Zhorken's active squad

Riley the male Buneary <Klutz> @ Ring Target
Zadie the female Trapinch <Arena Trap> @ Eviolite
Jazz the female Deerling (Autumn Form) <Serene Grace> @ Occa Berry
Tetsuya the male Mawile <Hyper Cutter> @ Scope Lens
Jan the female Snorunt <Ice Body> @ Dawn Stone
Findlay the male Zigzagoon <Gluttony> @ Lucky Egg
Ambrose the male Fennekin <Magician> @ White Herb
Lawrence the female Flabébé (Blue Flower) <Flower Veil> @ Eviolite
Maëlys the female Espurr <Infiltrator> @ Lucky Egg
le cupcake the female Swirlix <Sweet Veil> @ Whipped Dream

Meursault's active squad

Malmö the female Ralts <Synchronize>
Shivers the female Snorunt <Ice Body> @ Dawn Stone
Bastet the female Meowth <Technician>
Refraction the genderless Staryu <Natural Cure> @ Water Stone
Ruin the genderless Baltoy <Levitate>
Duke the male Grimer <Sticky Hold> @ Lucky Egg
Georgia the female Swablu <Natural Cure>
Delve the female Gastly <Levitate> @ Petaya Berry
Bass the male Munchlax <Pickup> @ Soothe Bell
Errata the female Dwebble <Sturdy>
OR
Any two nonlegendaries with any items and abilities

Turn Order:
-Meursault sends out
-Zhorken sends out and commands
-Meursault commands
-I engage in successful flailing!

 

[nastypass]

Let's-a go, Duke!

 

[Keldeo]

DQ warning for Zhorken. You have 50 hours to send out a Pokemon and post commands.

 

[Zhorken]

WHOOP sorry. Let's go Riley!

Start off with a small Substitute. Then I guess you may as well Fling your Ring Target, since that trick isn't gonna work here and Shadow Sneak could be bad news later on. Then Dig underground and stay there for now.

Substitute (15%) ~ Fling ~ Dig (down)

 

[nastypass]

First off, take a Power-up Punch into that sub, then go for a Poison Jab which should do enough to take down the Sub. Then finish off with a Shock Wave.

Power-Up Punch ~ Poison Jab ~ Shock Wave

 

[Keldeo]

Zhorken's Buneary looks up at his trainer confusedly when they pass the holodrome and continue to the boring stadium field, complete with spiky plastic astroturf and clumpy, rough fake dirt. Riley puffs out his cheeks and frowns—why couldn't they have gone to a real arena with real grass?—but mentally he's readying himself for the upcoming battle. On the other side of the arena, however, Duke rejoices: finally, somewhere Meursault doesn't have to pay for the soil he's polluted! The Grimer sludges over the astroturf with undisguised glee, more than ready to fight some anti-turf Buneary. The battlers lock eyes, the trainers give their orders, and the referee raises her flags…​

Zhorken (Oo)

Riley (m) <Klutz> @ Ring Target
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Currently: Pawing dubiously at the fake dirt. Current Speed: 85.
Commands: Substitute (15) ~ Fling ~ Dig (down)

Meursault (Oo)

Duke (m) <Sticky Hold> @ Lucky Egg
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Currently: Wondering why the grass isn't melting. Current Speed: 25.
Commands: Power-Up Punch ~ Poison Jab ~ Shock Wave

Round 1

Riley leaps into action first, mounding together the hated fake dirt as best he can to form a vaguely bipedal shape. He taps into the rocky substance, breathes some energy into his doll, and grins when a dirt Buneary springs to life, ready to defend him at any cost. Duke frowns but prepares to launch a punch straight at his enemy's fluffy ears; he's heard those things can punch through solid rock. Unfortunately, just when the Grimer's about to slug his opponent, Riley's substitute jumps in. Despite the construct's relative lack of fur and abundance of fake dirt, however, Duke has managed to take out a sizable chunk of its head, and he retreats with more confidence than before.

Angered at the sudden attack on his substitute, Riley prepares to give the Grimer a bullseye-flavored beating. Followed closely by the remains of his doll, the Buneary scurries over to Duke, raises the Ring Target dramatically over his head, and… trips over himself, resulting in a mouthful of fake dirt, a slight ringing in his left ear, and no progress. Now both mad and embarrassed, he tries tossing the disc like a Frisbee, but his clumsy throw arcs well off course before flopping uselessly to the ground. Maybe he's just not cut out for this "Fling" business. Duke, on the other hand, allows himself a snicker before raising a sludgy hand to strike his opponent. Once again, the substitute leaps to defend its master, but Duke is ready, aiming a precise, poisonous strike that shatters the substitute on contact. Some of the attack's Poison energy oozes off and spreads like sludge through the pile of fake dirt, but it's already been battered beyond recognition.

Mourning the loss of his substitute, Riley now wants nothing more than to hide away for a while, channeling a beige Ground type energy to rip up the astroturf underneath him. The Buneary burrows deeper and deeper until he's satisfied with his tunnel, and his tan aura dissipates. A little sunlight trickles in from the hole's entrance, making him squint, but he's confident that Duke won't be able to reach him from here. Above ground, however, the Grimer has been focusing on summoning Electric power. The sudden jolts fan out in a wide radius before fizzling out, but the Buneary is nowhere to be found, and the pulses hit nothing but air and fake dirt. Puzzled, Duke scans the arena before he arrives on the culprit. He narrows his eyes at the tunnel and grips his Lucky Egg ever tighter; he's gonna get that Buneary, you just wait.​

Zhorken (Oo)

Riley (m) <Klutz> @ Ring Target
Health: 85%
Energy: 89%
Currently: Relaxing in the tunnel. Six feet underground. Current Speed: 85.
Used: Substitute (15) ~ Fling (failed) ~ Dig (down)

Meursault (Oo)

Duke (m) <Sticky Hold> @ Lucky Egg
Health: 100%
Energy: 90%
Currently: Scowling at the tunnel. +1 Attack. Current Speed: 25.
Used: Power-Up Punch ~ Poison Jab ~ Shock Wave (missed)

Field Notes
-There is a six-foot-deep hole in the ground on Zhorken's side of the field.
-Next to the hole is a poison-soaked pile of fake dirt that used to be Riley's substitute.

Action Notes
-Fling failed because Riley's ability is Klutz.
-Poison Jab destroyed the substitute.
-Shock Wave missed because Riley was already underground and Duke hadn't been commanded to aim it into the hole.
-No attacks were critical hits.
-If I've made a mistake somewhere, please tell me.

Meursault commands next.

 

[Zhorken]

A small Substitute is actually supposed to be 10% health — I mean, going with 15% anyway is fine, since that's obviously what I intended, but I was hoping you'd notice and point it out. I'm also a little confused as to how Riley's missing that much energy; could you post your energy calcs?

Good job otherwise, though! You were quick, you caught Fling and Shock Wave, and your write-up is solid.

 

[Keldeo]

Your command string said Substitute (15), so I went with that, but yeah I should have caught the discrepancy. As for energy, 86 = 100 - 8 (15/2, rounded up, for the substitute) - 1 (flinging Ring Target has 10 base damage = 1% base energy) - 5 (digging down).

 

[Zhorken]

I... hadn't actually realized that Substitute's energy is rounded up, rather than down, so that explains that. Whoops.

5% for digging down is definitely too much, though — a two-action Dig should only cost 4% total. (How you divide that is up to you.)

 

[nastypass]

... oops, I thought nevermiss moves hit Pokémon on the evade turn of Dig. 's what I get for posting commands at like 6a and not checking.

First things first: Toxic on the first turn you're able to hit Riley, and then Venoshock the second turn you're able. Otherwise, make two clones with Double Team, Acid Armor, then make a small Substitute.

Double Team (2 clones) / Toxic ~ Acid Armor / Toxic / Venoshock ~ Substitute (10%) / Toxic / Venoshock

 

[Zhorken]

Woo, that actually works out well! Dig back up, Fake Out, and Facade.

Dig (up) ~ Fake Out ~ Facade

 

[Keldeo]

Zhorken (Oo)

Riley (m) <Klutz> @ Ring Target
Health: 85%
Energy: 89%
Currently: Relaxing in the tunnel. Six feet underground. Current Speed: 85.
Commands: Dig (up) ~ Fake Out ~ Facade

Meursault (Oo)

Duke (m) <Sticky Hold> @ Lucky Egg
Health: 100%
Energy: 90%
Currently: Scowling at the tunnel. +1 Attack. Current Speed: 25.
Commands: Double Team (2) / Toxic ~ Acid Armor / Toxic / Venoshock ~ Substitute (10) / Toxic / Venoshock

Field Notes
-There is a six-foot-deep hole in the ground on Zhorken's side of the field.
-Next to the hole is a poison-soaked pile of fake dirt that used to be Riley's substitute.

Round 2

Still in his tunnel, Riley purses his lips, trying to remember exactly where his opponent was before summoning the Ground energy again to surround him in a beige cloud. Angling his body in what he hopes is the right direction, he shoots diagonally upwards, away from his original entrance, and breaks the surface, impacting the hapless Grimer in a spray of astroturf and fake dirt. Jumping away from his exit hole, Riley pats some of the fake dirt off his fur and smiles as he surveys the scene; it doesn't look like Duke will be getting up any time soon. However, the irritated Grimer has other plans. As he rights himself as well as an amorphous blob of sludge can, Duke gathers as much of the most noxious, caustic chemicals he has access to and spews them at Riley in a great gray glob. The Toxic hits its mark and begins to seep into Riley's fur, staining it an ugly purple.

Duke smirks as Riley doubles over across the field, apparently in pain. If the toxins are already at work, he can take his time pseudopoding over and preparing some acid to belch up for his next attack. He leers at the still-curled Buneary and readies the poison... and then Riley explodes right at him with a sudden yell, surprising Duke enough that he chokes on his Venoshock. Duke pouts—that wasn't fair!—and the Buneary exploits his hesitation to deal him a glancing blow with a curled ear before leaping off and away. Now it's Riley's turn to smirk, and then wince; the grimace wasn't all for show, and he can already feel the telltale tingle of Toxic poison setting in.

Riley can use that, though. He channels the rage he's been bottling up since the battle started and gradually works himself into a heated frenzy, bounding back onto Duke before pounding him with everything he's got: paws, ears, Ring Target, even headbutting him a few times. Duke is taken by surprise, not having suspected that such a cute Buneary could close the distance so quickly and angrily, but he regains his wits by the end of the attack and takes advantage of their proximity to splatter Riley's fur with a close-range Venoshock. As the poison trickles into his body, the Buneary begins to feel unwell and retreats, holding his stomach. Duke oozes back to his side of the field, stinging but proud of himself.​

Zhorken (Oo)

Riley (m) <Klutz> @ Ring Target
Health: 69%
Energy: 78%
Currently: Splotched purple and feeling ill. Badly poisoned (damage after current round: 1). Current Speed: 85.
Used: Dig (up) ~ Fake Out ~ Facade

Meursault (Oo)

Duke (m) <Sticky Hold> @ Lucky Egg
Health: 66%
Energy: 85%
Currently: Sore all over. +1 Attack. Current Speed: 25.
Used: Toxic ~ (flinched) ~ Venoshock

Field Notes
-There are two fairly close holes in the ground connected by an arcing tunnel six feet deep.
-Near one of the holes is a poison-soaked pile of fake dirt.

Action Notes
-Duke flinched on the second action.
-No attacks were critical hits.

Zhorken commands next.

 

[Keldeo]

DQ warning for Zhorken. You have 49 hours to issue commands.

 

[Zhorken]

You did well! Those were some fairly complicated conditionals, and Fake Out complicated them a little more, but you sorted them out right. You also seem to have correctly reasoned out that Facade's double power should impact its energy cost, but Venoshock's shouldn't, since that's what makes sense flavour-wise.

Your writeup was also great again. Riley continues to be adorable, and I giggled at Duke "pseudopoding".

Anyway, Riley! Make a large Substitute, then use Swagger and Heal Bell. If he's Protecting or has a Sub action two, use Heal Bell then Hyper Voice. If you're Taunted, use Facade; if you're Taunted *and* he's made a Sub, use Hyper Voice.

Substitute (20%) ~ Swagger/Heal Bell/Facade ~ Heal Bell/Facade/Hyper Voice

 

[Keldeo]

If you're Taunted, use Facade; if you're Taunted *and* he's made a Sub, use Hyper Voice.

Substitute (20%) ~ Swagger/Heal Bell/Facade ~ Heal Bell/Facade/Hyper Voice

Posting this here since I want to get it cleared up before Meursault commands, but could you clarify on which actions Riley should do this, Zhorken? You don't slash Facade on action 3 or Hyper Voice on action 2, so it's somewhat ambiguous.

 

[Zhorken]

Ah, yeah, sorry. Facade actually is in there on action two (on the end), but Hyper Voice is only on action three because that's the only time it's possible for that situation to come up.

 

[nastypass]

Confusion is vile, so we're going to join the Sub parade. Make one for 15%, then go for a Power-up Punch. I am far too lazy to go through the ref's numbers to determine if anti-STAB is a thing this match (boo, hiss) so go for broke on the last action and Gunk Shot so the sub isn't left at 1 or 2% at the end of the round or something silly like that.

Substitute (15%) ~ Power-up Punch ~ Gunk Shot

 

[Keldeo]

Zhorken (Oo)

Riley (m) <Klutz> @ Ring Target
Health: 69%
Energy: 78%
Currently: Splotched purple and feeling ill. Badly poisoned (damage after current round: 2).
Commands: Substitute (20) ~ Swagger / Heal Bell / Facade ~ Heal Bell / Hyper Voice / Facade

Meursault (Oo)

Duke (m) <Sticky Hold> @ Lucky Egg
Health: 66%
Energy: 85%
Currently: Sore all over. +1 Attack.
Commands: Substitute (15) ~ Power-Up Punch ~ Gunk Shot

Field Notes
-There are two fairly close holes in the ground connected by an arcing tunnel six feet deep.
-Near one of the holes is a poison-soaked pile of fake dirt.

Round 3

After how quickly Duke eliminated his fake-dirt doll earlier, Riley isn't ready to put much more trust into the astroturf, but there doesn't seem to be anything else around that he can make a Substitute with. If only he could generate fluff; but then, as if the arena is responding to his thoughts, a giant pillow materializes in front of him. The Buneary looks bemusedly at his trainer—did they apply for a signature move for him, Pillow Summon or something?—but shrugs and removes the plastic casing so that he can breathe life into his new Substitute. Across the field, Duke snickers. Riley needed to summon a pillow to make a Substitute? He can do better than that, and he can do it organically, too. Duke belches up corrosive sludge until he's face-to-face with a blob of poison around as big as he is, then transforms it into a Grimer lookalike with a touch (though admittedly, that didn't change much).

Seeing his opponent's Substitute, Riley chants an ancient healing spell that conjures a translucent bell. Duke's Substitute, sensing an enemy move, makes the most of its simple mind and attempts to shield its creator from the incoming attack, but once the Grimer realizes what his opponent is doing, he waves his construct off. Both Pokemon take a moment to relax as the Heal Bell's chimes send a wave of soothing energy through their bodies, and Riley feels the Toxic poison purged miraculously from his bloodstream. Duke is back to business straight away, though. Summoning amber Fighting energy, he gives the Buneary's pillow-Substitute a solid slug, cleanly decapitating it and sending responsibly sourced Swanna feathers flying everywhere. Riley can only gaze in horror at the destruction his foe has wrought, and Duke sneers a taunt while sludging away. He's got this.

The Buneary recovers from his shock quickly and glares with the most intimidating look he can muster at his opponent, whose Substitute's utter disregard for hygiene just makes him want to scream. He takes a deep breath in preparation for revenge (at this, the referee hands a pair of noise-canceling earbuds to each of the trainers before putting one on herself). The Hyper Voice flattens every blade of astroturf within a wide radius, even ripping sections out of the ground and sending them flying. Outside the stadium, bird Pokemon change their course, and a baby starts to cry. Trainers and Pokemon walking to the holodrome plug their ears, and some shout protests only to be drowned out by the sheer volume. Duke, of course, has a front-row seat to Riley's wild shrieks, which his Substitute tries to defend against, to no avail. The Buneary just keeps screaming, eyes closed, mouth open, oblivious to the havoc he's created—and then, finally, stops and opens his eyes, his throat sore. Still disoriented, Duke can barely focus, and his ears are ringing. Recalling his commands, he oozes over to give his opponent's Substitute a slimy swipe, but misjudges the distance between them and whiffs, his blob of sludge flung too far left. Huffing, the Grimer gathers more venom in his fist, but before he can aim his attack, the referee raises her flags to signal the round's end.​

Zhorken (Oo)

Riley (m) <Klutz> @ Ring Target
Health: 49%
Energy: 62%
Currently: Pillow Summoner, defender of justice and sanitation. Has a substitute with 9% health.
Used: Substitute (20) ~ Heal Bell ~ Hyper Voice

Meursault (Oo)

Duke (m) <Sticky Hold> @ Lucky Egg
Health: 40%
Energy: 67%
Currently: More than ready to try, try again. +2 Attack. Has a substitute with 15% health.
Used: Substitute (15) ~ Power-Up Punch ~ Gunk Shot (missed)

Field Notes
-There are two fairly close holes in the ground connected by an arcing tunnel six feet deep.
-Near one of the holes is a poison-soaked pile of fake dirt.
-The ground is littered with feathers, toxic splatter, and bits of uprooted astroturf.

Action Notes
-Heal Bell cured Riley's toxic poison on action 2.
-Power-Up Punch was a critical hit.
-Gunk Shot missed.

Meursault commands next.

 

[nastypass]

Can I see your math on Power-up Punch? With a crit at +1 I'm pretty sure it only should have done either 9 or 10 depending on whether you subtracted for anti-stab.

Regardless, my commands:

ooookay Duke that gunk shot miss was bad. but that's what we get trying to end the sub in two. we still can though, thanks to that PUP crit! nice job salvaging it. Poison Jab first off to try and break the sub. Then Body Slam on the first turn you're able to get at Riley himself, and stay on top of him. Just glomp all over him and keep him down. Follow that up with a close range Gunk Shot if you're able. If Riley Protects or digs down and you can't hit him or his Sub, Curse and delay your other moves by one.

Poison Jab/Curse ~Body Slam/Poison Jab/Curse ~ Gunk Shot/Body Slam/Curse

 

[Keldeo]

Can I see your math on Power-up Punch? With a crit at +1 I'm pretty sure it only should have done either 9 or 10 depending on whether you subtracted for anti-stab.

floor((BP + stab + stat boosts)*type modifier) + BP for the crit comes out to floor((4 + 0 + 1)*1.5) + 4, which is 11. I use Negrek's scale, but without anti-stab.